Stevens has been with the National Guard for 29 years and this is his first time being deployed overseas.

"I've spent 29 years stateside, so this is my opportunity to do what I dream to do," he said.

Specialist Andrea Jesse, 24, is being deployed while her husband, Edward, who is assigned to a different element of the same battalion, is not.

"It's almost harder on him than it is on me," she said. "I think he feels like he should be the one going instead of me."

Jesse said her and her husband's biggest concern is that she could return from active duty and then he could be called.

"We both had to set up power of attorney and our wills," she said.

On top of that, Jesse is scheduled to graduate from the University of Florida on Dec. 20 with a double degree in public relations and psychology, but she will miss that ceremony, too.

"After I sent out my invitations I had to call everybody and say, 'You can still go, but I won't be there,'" she said.

Travis said the unit is scheduled to be deployed about Dec. 13 and then be sent to a mobilization base, but that is all tentative.

Other units called to active duty at the same time include 50th Area Support Group in Homestead, 653rd Signal Company in Crestview, Detachment 1, Company H, 171st Aviation Regiment in Brooksville and 2nd Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery from Melbourne, Fort Pierce and West Palm Beach.

In the mean time, the soldiers are getting ready to go.

"The soldiers are prepared and trained," Stevens said. "We'll take care of one another."